how to write into a windows command window from python

Question

I am using Python 2.6 I'd like to enter instructions into a command windows from python. I just need the right method. However as an indication, I am showing several failed trials. Here are several trials and the error types I get:

first trial

import subprocess
proc = subprocess.Popen('cmd.exe', stdin = subprocess.PIPE, stdout = subprocess.PIPE)
stdout, stderr = subprocess.communicate('cd Documents')
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'communicate'

Second trial:

import subprocess
proc = subprocess.Popen('cmd.exe', stdin = subprocess.PIPE, stdout = subprocess.PIPE)
proc.stdin.write("cd Documents")

No error message, however nothing happens. Il i try to open a folder that doesn't exist , I get the same thing. The command window stays empty

Third trial:

os.system('cd Documents')

Nothing happens , it returns 1, however if i try to open a folder that doesn't exist, it returns 1 too:

os.system('cd Documentss')

Last trial

a=os.popen("C:\\system32\\cmd.exe",'w')
a.write("cd Documents")
IOError: [Errno 22] Invalid argument

Thanks for your help

why do you need to do this? Isn't os.chdir("C:\\..") enough? — kurumi
– kurumi, Commented Apr 18, 2011 at 13:27

Alex Bliskovsky · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-18 13:12:24Z

3

Your first trial is correct, except for the fact that you're calling the module instead of your newly instantiated class. You need to use

proc.communicate('cd Documents')

answered Apr 18, 2011 at 13:12

Alex Bliskovsky

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1 Comment

henrima Over a year ago

Thanks a lot for you answer. If I'm doing this I dn't get the error message anymore. However, if I'm writing this, the window is jsut closing whethere the file exists or not. Also nothing appears on the command window after the first line was written

Sravan Kumar · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-19 17:39:25Z

1

Your third trial:

 os.system('your command')

works. I used and it's ok:

os.system('ipconfig -renew') # Renew all connections windows

Try:

os.system('ipconfig -release') # you will disconnect from your network

Then use:

os.system('ipconfig -renew') # network will back

edited Jul 19, 2016 at 17:39

Sravan Kumar

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answered Jul 19, 2016 at 16:03

user6609527

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